Sutera plant named ‘Sutcabl’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Sutera  plant particularly distinguished by its larger blue flowers than other  Sutera  plants, earlier to flower, by thick stems and a growing habit that is compact.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Sutera diffusa.

Varietal denomination: ‘Sutcabl’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Sutera, botanically known as Sutera diffusa.

The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘B21’ and ‘B23’. ‘B21’ is a lavender blue flowering Sutera having a spreading, trailing habit. ‘B21’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘B23’ is a white flowering Sutera having a larger than normal flower. ‘B23’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Neither ‘B21’ or ‘B23’ has been patented.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2000 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty is firmly fixed.

This new Sutera plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

‘Sutcabl’ is coming from the same cross as the variety ‘Sutharis’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,254, from which it differs in having a blue color instead of a lavender color and having smaller flowers. Also ‘Sutcatrbl’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/002,472) is from the same cross.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:

-   -   a) exhibits blue flowers;     -   b) has thick stems; and     -   c) exhibits a compact habit growth

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Sutera plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Sutera. The data that define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 15 week old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a 11 cm container. Colour readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colour references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Sutcabl’, its parents and a similar cultivar ‘Sutcabl’ ‘B21’ ‘B23’ ‘Blue Showers’ Flower color Deep Blue Deep blue White Blue Stem thickness Thick Medium Thick Thin Plant habit Compact Trailing Compact Trailing Flower size Medium Big Small Small

The commercial name of the most resembling variety is ‘Blue Showers’. The patented name of this variety is ‘Bacoble’ and its U.S. Plant Pat. No. is PP 13,181.

-   The plant: -   Classification — Botanical: Sutera diffusa. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—A seedling named ‘B21’ is one of our             seedlings from out B-generation of plants bred in 1999.         -   Pollen parent.—A seeding named ‘B23’ is one of our seedings             from our B-generation of plants bred in 1999. -   Growth habit: Compact. -   Plant height: 10 to 15 cm. -   Spreading area of plant: 22 to 28 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid growing. -   Strength: Good. -   Branching habit: Short internodes and on each knot more than two     appearing shoots give a plant that is more branched than normal. -   Blooming period: From May until November. -   The stem: -   Diameter: 2 to 3 mm. -   Shape: Cylindrical. -   Anthocyanin pigmentation: Absent. -   Color of the stem: 137A. -   Length of internode: 8 to 20 mm, depending on the light where the     plant is propagated. -   Pubescence: Sparse. -   The foliage: -   Phyllotaxis: Opposite. -   Shape of blade: Broadly ovate. -   Shape of the blade apex: Rounded. -   Shape of the blade base: Shortly attenuate. -   Leaf margin: Crenate. Venation: Pinnate. -   Texture:     -   -   Upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Lower surface.—Slightly pubescent. -   Length: 12 to 22 mm. -   Width: 15 to 23 mm. -   Thickness: 1 to 2 mm. -   Depth of incision: 1 mm. -   Color:     -   -   Upper side.—137A.         -   Lower side.—137B. -   Length of petiole: 1 mm. -   Diameter of petiole: 1 mm. -   Color of petiole: 137A. -   Fragrance: Musk. -   The bud: -   Pedicel length: 8 to 14 mm, depending on season. -   Pedicel diameter: 1 mm. -   Pedicel color: 137B. -   Pedicel angle: About 60 degrees from the stem. -   Bud size:     -   -   Diameter.—1 mm.         -   Length.—4 to 8 mm. -   Bud shape: Obovate. -   Bud color: 85B. -   Sepals:     -   -   Color.—137D to 137B.         -   Number.—5.         -   Shape.—Erect calyx.         -   Size.—1 mm. -   The flower: -   Flower diameter: 10 to 15 mm. -   Flower tube length: 4 to 8 mm. -   Throat diameter, distal end: 2 to 3 mm. -   Tube diameter, proximal end: 1.5 to 2.5 mm. -   Form: Salverform. -   Symmetry: Radial symmetric. -   Type: Solitary, axillary. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface.—Between 92A and 92B.         -   Lower surface.—92C. -   Corolla tube: Cylindrical. -   Corolla tube color: 8B. -   Overlapping of petals: Separate. -   No. of petals: 5. -   Shape of the petals: Gamopetalous, grown together at the base of the     petal, forming a corolla. -   Petal lobe: —     -   -   Length.—4 to 6 mm.         -   Width.—2 to 4 mm.         -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Shape of sepals: Gamopetalous, grown together at the base of the     sepal. -   Calyx:     -   -   Length.—6 to 8 mm.         -   Diameter.—3 mm.         -   Shape.—Narrow, linear.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Texture of the calyx:     -   -   Upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Lower surface.—Pubescent. -   Color of the calyx:     -   -   Upper surface.—137B.         -   Lower surface.—137C. -   Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb: Absent. -   Flower fragrance: No fragrance detected. -   Lastingness of one flower: Flowers stay open 8 to 10 days. -   Reproductive organs: -   Number of reproductive organs: 1 pistil, 4 stamens. -   Pollen production: Very low. -   Stigma color: Light green 138D. -   Stamen color: Yellow 13A. Stamen arrangement: Didynamous. -   Stamen type: Basifixed. -   Dehiscence of stamens: Extrorse. -   Ovary position: Ovary superior, flower hypogynous. -   Style shape: Style terete. -   Style length: 5 mm. -   Pistil length: 8 mm. -   Seeds: Only a few seeds are formed, almost sterile plant. Few seeds     that occur are light yellow 13C, small, round, diameter     approximately 0.1 mm. -   Roots: -   Type of roots: Fibrous, color 155A. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics: No exceptional     physiological and ecological differences with other cultivars of     Sutera diffusa are observed. -   Propagation: Propagation is done by axillary cuttings. Tips of stems     are used, which take 6 days to initiate roots and 12 days to develop     roots. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Sutera plant named ‘Sutcabl’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 